Chapter 78: Capital is a Monster and Also Creates Monsters

"What's wrong?"

"Well, you know I went to the lab once yesterday morning, right?"

"Mm."

Hawk nodded.

That was before he went to the library yesterday.

He had originally assumed Gwen was looking for Dr. Connors yesterday morning to report back after her leave.

And now?

"Did something go wrong with the experiment?"

"The experiment is fine, but I heard the investors are having problems. You know Dr. Connors's experiment is a partnership between Oscorp and the military, right?"

"You mentioned that before."

"The military has pulled their funding."

Gwen lowered her voice, leaned in, and said, "Besides, Dr. Connors's experiment has been going on for nearly two years now without any results, so the top brass at Oscorp are starting to get impatient with it."

Capital is realistic.

They will sponsor the funds you need and even provide you with facilities to meet your requirements because of the blueprint you painted at the start.

But if you don't deliver the results capital expects as anticipated, then capital will abandon you without hesitation.

Because cutting losses in time is a required course for capital.

Dr. Connors's regeneration experiment is exactly like that.

Not to mention that the military withdrew funding from Dr. Connors's lab last month due to budget reallocations.

Although the military said it was temporary and they would invest again once funds were ample, keeping Oscorp Industries hanging on.

But...

Things aren't peaceful inside Oscorp Industries either.

Rumors say that since last year, Norman Osborn, who has been recuperating at his private estate due to a mysterious illness, is terminally ill and his time is running out.

This news is not without foundation.

The fact that Harry Osborn, who had been studying in England, returned to Niuyuecheng this summer and began getting involved in company affairs with the help of Norman Osborn's private secretary, Felicia Hardy, is a very obvious signal.

Although the Osborn family holds the majority of the shares in Oscorp Industries.

Yet in this era where the old king is dying and the new king is about to be crowned, there are always people who want to take advantage of this changing of the guard to secure some benefits for themselves.

And a new broom sweeps clean.

So, at this juncture, some people have proposed streamlining the labs and shutting down those that have failed to produce capital results for a long time.

And Dr. Connors's lab, which had its investment suspended by the military due to a funding gap, bore the brunt of it.

Although the military said to wait for the next batch of funds from the Pentagon to arrive to resume investment, who can guarantee that?

After all, the reputation of the federal military is what it is.

However, Oscorp Industries hasn't made the final decision to cut off Dr. Connors as well; although the military's funds were interrupted, there was still a portion of the previous funding left.

So...

"The doctor's lab staff has been downsized."

"Five researchers were laid off."

"Of course, I was originally among them."

"I only heard about it yesterday, but because I'm a work-study student, the cost isn't high."

"And I went to the lab yesterday; Dr. Connors wasn't as happy as you said, so I was a bit surprised when you brought this up just now."

Gwen recounted the recent situation at Dr. Connors's lab.

Hawk didn't actually care whether Dr. Connors's experiment could succeed, so he just listened casually. After Gwen finished speaking, he shrugged: "Alright, anyway, that's what Dr. Connors said over the phone; who knows if it can actually succeed."

Gwen also nodded: "I also hope Dr. Connors's experiment can succeed."

The two of them were just chatting casually like that.

But once they finished talking, it was over. After Hawk finished the burger in his hand, the two of them got up, took their trays, and left.

The topic regarding Dr. Connors's lab ended there.

But...

They could end it, but the person involved in their conversation, Dr. Connors, could not just say the topic was finished and move on to the next one.

Because at this moment, Dr. Connors was experiencing the scene of being about to be abandoned by capital.

Dr. Connors looked at the person standing in his office at this moment, who had brought the latest resolution from the board of directors.